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Another Missed Call

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Another Missed Call 📞 I think today was another missed call; and I don’t mean a malfunctioning cell phone.  The forecast looked chancy; so I didn’t ride to the salvage store. It looks like I could have gone there, after all! This isn’t the first time I didn’t ride to the store because storms seemed likely; and then those storms didn’t materialize. I don’t think it’s rained here; although it’s hard to tell when I’m indoors. And, as I say so often, you never know what conditions are like just a few miles away! My concerns over the weather led me to go ride some laps around the local park; then head for a nearby grocery store. The sky occupied a certain past of my attention the entire time; but it didn’t rain. It has me thinking that I made another missed call. Time will tell, though. We’re under flood watch until 7 pm. Back to the Kitchen 🥄 It’s time I got back to the kitchen. My stock of frozen stuff is running low. Fortunately cooking doesn’t depend on the weather; unless, that is, we get a power outage. I sure miss having a gas stove! I’ve got two Hoppin’ John variations in mind; one with yellow split peas/lentils and brown rice; and one with pinto/kidney beans and quinoa. Now I have to think of names for them! We’ve got yet another rainy forecast for tomorrow. I hope there isn’t lightning.⚡️It’s actually good training to ride in the rain now and then; but if lightning is cracking overhead, it’ not a wise time to head out for a ride. Also, the road bike doesn’t have fenders; and riding in wet/rainy conditions means my poor bicycle gets splattered with muck and grit. A rainy day is a good time to get back to the kitchen; but at the same time, I want to finish my weekly mileage! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”. ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Another Missed Call August 31, 2024 In the Nick August 30, 2024 Hard to Plan August 29, 2024 Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Kitchen Antics

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

Kitchen Antics 🤡 🥄  My kitchen antics have been on hold for quite some time. I don’t feel like heating up the kitchen in this hot weather; and the freezer is still too full of stuff that I’ve already cooked. I need to use it up before I make more! When I do get back to cooking, I think I’ll make another tikka masala variation. Or maybe I can use some of my garbage soup as the base for a daring new recipe! Garbage soups have a lot of “scope for imagination”, as Anne of Green Gables would say. When I’m ready ready for more kitchen antics, maybe I’ll hunt for a recipe in the ADA Vegetarian Cookbook. Possibly I’ll devise a variation of it, as I did with Cauliflower Potato Cheddar Mash (p. 87). The original recipe calls for russet (aka baking) potatoes. After I made the recipe according to the book, I made it again; and this time I substituted sweet potatoes. I think the sweet potatoes taste a lot better; and they’re lower in carbs than russet potatoes. Chill Out 🥶 It’s been so hot, though, that I’d far rather chill out than work away in a hot kitchen. A Cool Rag helps with that, both on the bike and off. By 10:00 am today it was already broiling; and I needed to walk to the bike shop. The Cool Rag made it somewhat more bearable. I rode early again, just after 7 am; partly because of the heat; and partly because T-storms were in the forecast from late morning. I tried to work on my pace; but didn’t do as well as I would have liked. Same old story! Once home from riding and running errands, I could chill out. But I’ve got to think about tomorrow’s ride. Maybe go sort of easy? I’ll see how the legs feel. And what the weather is doing! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Kitchen Antics August 28, 2024 Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Getting More Frequent

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Personal Care /

Getting More Frequent ⏰ Just ride, to be honest, is what most of my rides turn into! But longer rides are getting more frequent; and that means more preparation sessions! I need to get on-bike food ready, and drinks are a must, too; both electrolytes for the ride, and a post-ride recovery drink if I ride long or hard. Needless to say, I take along water. It means quite a load on my back; but I don’t need to get dehydrated. Doing more rides of 19+ miles means that the need for that Camel-Bak is getting more frequent. And if I’m considering RAGBRAI, I need to be used to riding with a load. They say you really don’t need a hydration system such as a Camel-Bak for RAGBRAI; but I’m not at all sure I can manage reaching for a water bottle on the down tube while battling a steep climb!  All Washed Up? 🫧 Post-ride, I need to get all washed up. Before I even take off my cycling outfit, I need to get two or three layers of sunblock off of my skin. It probably isn’t good to leave it on all day; and besides that, I wind up rubbing sunblock all over everything. I do this outdoors, as  I’d rather not wash all that stuff down the drain. Then I need to get my shorts all washed up. Often I’ll use a jersey for several rides before washing it; but shorts are another story. Going for a ride in unwashed shorts easily leads to irritated skin; or even saddle sores. I hope I don’t get all washed up while taking my bike to the shop. It has a flat; and I’m all thumbs at changing tubes. But there’s a 50% chance of rain; so I’ll take the poncho with me! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Getting More Frequent August 27, 2024 Clubs Nobody Wants August 26, 2024 Doohickies August 25, 2024 Wear and Tear August 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Start on Empty

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Start on Empty 🫙 Don’t start on empty, they say, whether you’re talking about a kid heading for school; an adult going to work; or a cyclist starting a long ride. They’re always saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all. When I’m heading out on the bike, I usually don’t start on empty; but now and then I have a morning when I just don’t feel like eating. That’s when on-bike eating becomes more critical. I do not need to try to ride almost 20 miles with nothing to eat! Fuel as You Go ⛽️ I take a fuel as you go approach to rides over 12-15 miles long. It seems to work better than riding without eating for 15-20 miles; then chowing down a whole energy bar in a few seconds before I resume pedaling. When you’re riding long distances, your your heart and legs have first dibs on your blood supply; and that leaves less blood available for digestion. This is especially true if you’ll be riding hard; or if you’re doing an all-day event, such as a century. They say, during such an event, keep rest stops short. Pick out what you want to eat; resume riding; then fuel as you go. If you hang around a rest stop for 15 minutes, eating all the while, you’re only too likely to have a very uncomfortable stomach — or worse — after you resume the ride. I don’t see myself doing a century ride in the near future, but I practice eating while riding. As I extend my daily distance, that’s all the more important!   This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Start on Empty August 23, 2024 Drone Away August 22, 2024 Siesta August 21, 2024 New Meaning August 20, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lesser of Two Evils?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lesser of Two Evils? 🙉 It’s a pain to have to decide the lesser of two evils. I need some groceries that the salvage store is unlikely to have; so I’ll need to visit either Winn Dixie or Whole Foods. And which is the lesser of two evils? Not the stores themselves, but getting to them! That’s a rather tough question when I’ll be riding a bicycle to the store on a weekday morning. Winn Dixie opens at 7:00 am, but is farther from home. Now that school is open, there’s more traffic; including huge school busses!  On the other hand, Whole Foods is closer to home; but they don’t open until 8:00 am. By then, get-to-work rush-hour traffic will be in full swing. Wish List 🍌 🍋 🌽 I have quite a wish list, too. I’ll definitely need both panniers! Some items, such as a bag of apples, take up a lot of space. I’m thinking of getting a half-dozen eggs; and they’ll need to be carefully packed. Frozen blueberries are also on the list; and I’ll want an insulated bag with a “blue ice” to keep them from melting on the way home! I guess I’ll have to put some items in my backpack. I should be used to having a weight there; I use the Camel-Bak many a day! After I get home with my load, the question is, to go out on the road bike or not? Afer all, the plan for tomorrow is to ride short and easy. A trip to the store will total under 7 miles; but watching out for traffic isn’s exactly my idea of an easy ride! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Lesser of Two Evils? August 14, 2024 Early Feels Better August 13, 2024 Uneasy Times August 11, 2024 Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Go Homemade?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Go Homemade? 🏡 Should I go homemade with the electrolyte drinks? It’s been so hot that I’ve been taking such beverages along even when I’m only riding to the salvage store. Store-bought electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade, can get quite expensive, even when I get them from the salvage store at a lowered price. Can I make my own electrolyte drinks? I once decided to go homemade; and tried a drink recipe that I found online. As well as I can remember, it had a bit of maple syrup in it; and I love maple! But highly-diluted maple syrup with a bit of salt in it tasted rather odd. And I can’t keep fluids chilled when riding in hot weather. Even a frozen bottle of electrolyte drink thaws and melts quite quickly. How Does Cool Feel? 🥶 How does cool feel? After weeks of unrelenting heat, I think we’ve forgotten; and we need to find ways to keep from melting. An Arctic Air Fan is an alternative to a cool rag; but what if it runs out of charge in the middle of a hot ride? I would get most uncomfortable if it did! I think having the cool rag has spoiled me; but on the other hand, we’ve got to do what we can to avoid heat-related illnesses. The heat index today is below 100 degrees; but it’s still plenty hot. So how does cool feel? Maybe we’ll find out when October arrives!  This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Go Homemade? August 10, 2024 If I Were Fortune August 8, 2024 Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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If I Were Fortune

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

If I Were Fortune 🥠 If I were fortune (but I’m not!), oh, how different things would be!  I’d banish this persistent heat; and conjure up pleasant temperatures in the low 70s. If I were fortune, there would be no frigid days when my toes go numb after half an hour. There would be no headwinds; and our rides would never get rained on! My ride food would never get half-melted, either. Alas, that cyclist utopia doesn’t exist. If it did, I’m sure I would have made a beeline for it many years ago! Didn’t Beat the Heat 🥵 I didn’t beat the heat today; and in fact, doing so would have impossible. I was too tired to get up at 5:00 am; and the overnight temperature was about 79 degrees. It was hot before I even began my ride! I increased my mileage back up to 19-20 miles, but still didn’t do hard efforts — partly because of the weather. I didn’t beat the heat, after all! But it seems that, no matter what I do, I spend most of my ride time in heart rate zones 3 and 4. So it looks like I burn mostly carbs when cycling.  If you’re interested in cycling for weight loss, Ride Your Way Lean states that your primary concern should be burning calories. I’ve also read that, the more intensely you ride, the more you burn carbs rather than fat. My knowledge of this subject is quite rudimentary; and I think I’ll keep on doing what I’ve been doing. If a sports nutritionist tells me different, then I’ll work at changing things. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Remain a Camel August 7, 2024 Tic Tac Toe? August 6, 2024 How Much Longer August 5, 2024 Plan for Heat August 4, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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I Got off Cheap

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

I Got off Cheap 🪙 I got off cheap today; not just once, but twice. First, I got some good stuff at the salvage store. I found a box of a dozen Special K Protein Bars; and for a couple of dollars less than they’d cost elsewhere. That was good, because my stash of ride food was running low. I also found hummus; and Gatorade Zero powder. So now I’m all set for protein bars and electrolyte drink for a few weeks.  I got off cheap at the bike shop, too. I thought my headlight had died; and went to the shop for a new one. But first they did some troubleshooting; and it turned out that the charging cable needed replacing. They didn’t even charge me for it (no pun intended)! Trouble-Free Ride? 🙃 Naturally I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow. Unfortunately I feel a bit tired; and maybe I need to plug myself into a charger block overnight! Joking aside, the big worry is — again — the heat. By midday today, the heat index was about 110 degrees; and there’s another 🙄 heat advisory tomorrow, starting at 10:00 am. Can I hope for a trouble-free ride tomorrow, then? Hard to say. It’s been so hot that I’ve taken to using the Camel-Bak for the ride to the salvage store, lest a single bidon be too little water. I even took electrolyte drink today. According to the forecast, there won’t be much wind tomorrow; and that always helps. But the overnight low is predicted to be 80 degrees; and it heats up fast. Should I take a day off from riding? I usually take Mondays off; and besides, Tropical Storm Debby is out there now. Who knows what the weather might do in the next few days? Debby is expected to make landfall in Florida; but these storms are capricious. She might change her mind and make a beeline for us; and then the wind would probably make outdoor riding impossible! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL I Got off Cheap August 3, 2024 Everything in Its Place August 2, 2024 August Already? August 1, 2024 Am I Old? July 31, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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New Approach

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

New Approach ⾨ Sometimes a new approach is very helpful, be it cyclist training or meal preparation. When it comes to the latter, my new approach is to weigh non-liquid foods, rather than measuring them by volume. “One cup” of a vegetable can mean different things, depending on how large (or small) the pieces are. But who wants to stand there measuring pieces of chopped cauliflower to be sure that they’re a half-inch long?  A good kitchen scale is very useful here. I bought mine years ago, when I was into soap-making. I needed a precise scale for measuring lye and oils/fats. Now this scale is really coming in handy. After all, I’ve got to watch the carbs. My A1c level crept up to 6! I’ll see a wellness coach in two weeks; and I hope I get some good pointers. August Training 🚲 But what’s my August training going to be? Have I got a new approach lined up? The plan I have in mind is to reduce mileage; but work on improving my pace. Cutting back on the distance isn’t so easy for a mileage hog like me. Easing up enough between hard efforts is, if anything, harder! But it’s quite evident that that’s what I need to do. All these years on the road bike, and I’m stuck at 11-12 mph. What’s good fuel for these efforts? Refritos? Yes, they’re full of carbs; but the sports nutritionist I consulted several years ago said, my exercise level means I need about 200 grams of carbs a day. Just not carbs from goodies! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL New Approach July 29, 2024 Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Frozen

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Food /

Frozen 🥶 Nobody likes to get frozen. So hand warmers come in handy during frigid weather. If the rest of me is chilled through, at least I can keep my fingers warm. But what do I do in this hot weather?  A number of sources that I’ve read say, get cool fluid if possible. Cool liquids are absorbed more easily by the body; but when it’s been hot for weeks, my cold tap produces only warm water! Last Thursday, I though of something else that I had read: to freeze your electrolyte drink the night before a ride. I tried it; and it did keep my drink cooler for a while. I think I’ll keep on doing it; that is, if there’s room in the freezer. Last night there wasn’t! Different Kind of Ride 🐌 I did a different kind of ride today. Instead of putting in long miles on the road bike, I did a shorter ride on the hybrid. There was a 50% chance of rain, so I wanted to take along the poncho; and I also wanted to stop at the ATM. I thought the hybrid was better for that, because I could use the trunk. So there I was, with Camel-Bak and a bike trunk. I did consider shooting for 25 miles; but on the hybrid I’m slower, because it’s heavier than the road bike. On top of that, I didn’t feel like hurrying today; and I became concerned that I would run short of water if I pushed for 25 miles. I have no handlebar bag for the hybrid, and I had to stop and dismount every time I wanted a bite to eat. That’s definitely a different kind of ride! On top of all that, it was getting very hot. It was already about 84 degrees when I set out around 7:30 am; and of course the temperature kept climbing. So I decided to leave the ride early. Now — where’s those T-storms they were talking about?   This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Frozen July 28, 2024 Success! July 27, 2024 Wait Til Morning July 26, 2024 Second Guessing July 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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